(Images from Ford PH)

I can remember a Grand Tour episode between the legends, May, Hammond, and Clarkson, showing off how to utilize the utility of the SUVs they brought to a particular challenge. It asks how much exactly we can put in an SUV, evaluating a sports utility vehicle in three parts – sports, utility, and vehicle. In this light we think we can evaluate how much space does a crossover SUV like the Ford Territory has, as compared with its competitors like the MG ZST and the Geely Coolray.

We have placed the Territory in the same bracket as the MG and Geely as they are relatively new players in the Philippine market, and because they are small crossover SUVs which are gaining popularity in the Philippines due to their tech and their price.

The crossover SUV is like the international symbol of driving your kids to school or going out of town. It is like a second car to many, but a first-and-only still, to many. In the country, where bringing every family member, neighbor and friend to the ‘small’ family outing is a norm, there is a curiosity why people prefer crossovers than 7 seaters, but it is clear why these creatures are preferred than compact sedans as there are more space to put your family’s stuff than a typical boot (except for that thing of beauty called the Honda City hatch).

So here are the mechanics and figures, but some observations -- the row of rear passenger seats for the three models do not fold completely, and if you don’t fold the seats, the three would relatively have the same amount of space because that is also reliant to the car dimensions.

The Ford Territory, as this is about the car, comes on top with about 420L of space, while the MG ZST comes with about 360L. On the last place is the Geely Coolray with 330L. The figures show a sort of increments so constant you can almost find them on shirt sizes, small (Coolray), medium (ZST), and large (Territory), with the Territory and the Coolray with almost a hundred liters of space difference.

Now as mentioned, when the seats are not folded, the space looks oddly similar, but we can assume the Territory has more space than the two. Now those who say the Territory has a different DNA because it’s made in China can eat their humble pie, because par of the Ford DNA is having a spacious interior. (At least they go that one correctly.)